As we mark 35 years, I reflect on the people and relationships that have shaped our firm and the values that will guide us into the future.

By Lesley Hargraves, CPA, Incoming Leading Partner

Lesley Hargraves advises business owners and executives on complex financial reporting matters, helping them navigate growth and change with confidence.

As Maxwell Locke & Ritter LLP (ML&R) celebrates 35 years in business, I have been thinking about what we want to carry forward and where we have room to grow. That question feels especially relevant as I prepare to succeed Kyle Parks as leading partner in January 2027, at a time when the accounting profession itself is changing.

Our anniversary gives us a reason to reflect on how we arrived here. It also gives us an opportunity to consider what our clients and people will need from us in the years ahead.

Deep Texas roots

ML&R was founded in 1991, with roots in Austin extending back to the 1960s. Our founders, Earl Maxwell, Tom Locke, and Mark Ritter, envisioned a firm where people could build fulfilling careers while providing exceptional service. Their belief that taking care of our people helps us take better care of our clients continues to guide us.

I joined ML&R in 2009 and became a partner in 2017. Having spent much of my career here, I see that belief as a responsibility. The way we support our colleagues affects the experience we can provide to clients. Giving people opportunities to develop, share their knowledge, and build lasting careers helps us serve clients as their needs become more complex.

Today, we are the largest independently owned and managed accounting and advisory firm in Central Texas and among the top five independently owned accounting firms in Texas. As we consider our next chapter, we want our growth to strengthen the personal relationships that helped us reach this point.

“Our 35th anniversary is a celebration of the people and relationships that have shaped ML&R,” said Kyle Parks, our leading partner. “We have grown by staying true to our values and earning our clients’ trust over time. Remaining independent allows us to carry that approach forward, with decisions guided by what matters to our clients and people.”

Our choice to remain independent

Across the accounting profession, mergers and acquisitions are reshaping firms, and private equity investment is helping fuel consolidation. These changes are raising important questions about how firms grow, who makes decisions, and what clients and employees can expect as ownership evolves.

Every firm has to consider the path that fits its goals. At ML&R, we’re fortunate that the foundation built by our founders and previous leaders puts us in a position to continue investing in our future while remaining independent. We don’t take that for granted, and we’re committed to making decisions that support the long-term interests of our people and clients.

Whatever a firm’s ownership structure, clients need experienced advisers who understand their priorities and follow through. For us, independence supports the way we want to meet those expectations. We can consider investments in our people, technology, and capabilities through the lens of long-term client needs and the culture we want to sustain.

Our next chapter

Our leadership transition is one example of putting that long-term view into practice. Kyle and I are working together through a planned, yearlong transition before I assume the role in January 2027. That time allows us to prepare thoughtfully and support continuity for our clients and team members.

I am honored to become our fourth leading partner and the first woman to hold the role. My focus is on carrying forward what has made ML&R successful while continuing to evolve alongside the needs and goals of our clients.

That will require us to keep learning and listening. Our clients’ circumstances will change, and the way we work will continue to evolve, particularly as AI and other technologies advance. We need to be willing to embrace new approaches while staying focused on what matters most. I believe the professional judgment, trust, and personal relationships that have always been at the heart of our firm will become even more important in the years ahead.

I am excited about what we can accomplish together. We have an experienced team, strong relationships, and a culture that gives our people room to grow. I’m committed to building on those strengths while continuing to look for ways we can improve.

For me, carrying our legacy forward means building on the foundation that has served us so well while continuing to evolve to meet the needs of our clients and people. The next 35 years will undoubtedly bring change, but our commitment to taking care of our people, serving our clients, and building lasting relationships will remain at the heart of who we are.